AHH STRAY NEWS: The Aphilliates, Swizz Beatz, Kanye West

DJ Drama of the The Aphilliates has released Gangsta Grillz: Respect The Game, a DVD version of the popular mixtape series. The DVD features an abundance of interviews including Bun B, Jae Millz, Killer Mike, Lil Jon, Lil Scrappy, Lil Wayne, Ludacris, Nelly, Paul Wall, Pitbull, P$C, Stat Quo, T.I., producers and other tastemakers. The documentary-style video runs about 75 minutes and is meant to give viewers a peer inside of the music game. A lot of the DVDs that are out are more like street videos, said the Atlanta-based DJ. I wanted people to see that what goes on behind the scenes is business. Drama, who frequently spins for T.I., expects to release Gangsta Grillz The Album, through Grand Hustle/Atlantic Records. Gangsta Grillz: Respect The Game is available nationwide.

Rapper/ producer Kanye West will be bestowed with the Artist Achievement Award at the 2005 Billboard Music Awards on December 6 in Las Vegas. The awards ceremony will air live on the Fox Network at 8 p.m. from the MGM Grand Garden Arena. “Kanye West has not only had a huge impact on R&B/Hip-Hop, he has transformed modern music as a whole,” said Tamara Conniff, co-executive editor of Billboard magazine. The Billboard Awards are a sales and chart performance-based awards show. Past winners of the Artist Achievement Award include Aerosmith, Janet Jackson, and Destiny’s Child.

Hip-Hop producer Swizz Beatz appeared in family court in New York last week to answer to a child support case, according to published reports. The famed rap producer for the likes of The Lox, Jay-Z and DMX appeared with his wife, J Records recording artist Mashonda, on November 16. Nicole Levy, the childs mother, originally filed for the support request on December 22, 2004 after paternity was established via blood test. A court decision is pending. Raoul Felder represents Levy. Felder is the lawyer who acted on behalf of Misa Hylton-Brim, mother of Sean Diddy Combs eldest son. Representatives for Swizz Beatz were not available at press time.